From Pescara to L'Aquila

A path made of roads that wind through secular woods, cultivated landscapes and villages, to discover an extremely lively territory from an artistic and cultural point of view.

The tour starts from Pescara and provides a first stop in Pianella, a quiet village with an ancient tradition, "Lu Bbonjorne", which originates from the "tribute" that the Lombard lords demanded from their vassals. The day of Easter and the night preceding the Monday of the Angel, a merry band of singers accompanied by trumpets, drums and plates, runs through the streets of the village bringing the greeting of "Good morning" under the windows of citizens, starting from the most important ones. In recent editions, the event has become a historical re-enactment of an authentic expression of popular culture.

At a short distance there is Loreto Aprutino where to discover the true "gold" of Abruzzo: the oil. In fact you will cross "forests" of olive trees, with a considerable density of crushers. In the golden triangle of Abruzzo oil, which includes Moscufo and Pianella, it is impossible not to taste the goodness of this production.

From here you can also enjoy an incomparable view that goes from the Gran Sasso to the Majella to the sea. The Church of S. Maria in Piano, which dates back to the 8th century and owes the present Borgognone structure to a reconstruction of 1280, is to be visited, together with the Acerbo Museum, a palace in the historic center where the best of ceramics production of some prestigious castellani maiolicari dynasties from the 1400s to the early 1800s are collected.

Then there is Penne, one of the oldest urban sites in the province, which before was the capital of the Italic tribe of the Vestini and then important Roman city. Of the Cathedral of St. Maximus, of Romanesque origin, you can admire the portal and the two-fourteenth-century rose window of the facade and the Renaissance portal on the right side. The oldest part is the crypt, built in the eleventh century. Do not miss the Church and the Convent of S. Maria in Colleromano, with the Atrian school portal, dated between 1200 and 1300. Inside the three naves, with pointed arches, give the structure a Gothic appearance.

Montorio al Vomano will hit you thanks to the wealth of buildings that demonstrate its millenary history: the churches of the Capuchins, of S. Filippo Neri, of S. Rocco, of the Immaculate Conception or of the Zoccolanti (where it is possible to admire a beautiful wooden statue of the Virgin Mary) and then the Madonna del Ponte. The path that from the SS 80 will lead you to the historical center of Pietracamela and to the 1450 m of Prati di Tivo, the most famous ski resort of Teramo whose slopes wind at the foot of the northern versant of Corno Piccolo, in the heart of the Gran Sasso massif , it is challenging but very impressive. From here it is possible to reach the Pietra della Luna, where there is the bronze statue of the Madonnina del Gran Sasso. A particularly beautiful ski resort, it is also a welcoming destination for summer holidays.
Next stop is the artificial lake of Campotosto, the largest in Abruzzo. The reserve boasts a well-preserved ecosystem located on the route of many migratory birds. The environmental characteristics of its banks are particularly suitable for resting and nesting. In winter the surface of the lake, sometimes completely frozen, offers a majestic and unusual spectacle: the views towards the Gran Sasso, the Terminillo and the Laga are truly remarkable. From here there are fascinating itineraries for the nearby mountains, while the circumlacual road offers bike rides or cross country trails.

A special mention deserves L'Aquila, wonderful city of art that unfortunately still shows the damage of the 2009 earthquake. It is, however, a city that struggles fiercely to recover and return to offer the best of itself to those who want to know it. After long restoration work, some of the masterpieces of the capital of L'Aquila shine again, such as the Church of San Bernardino, with its Renaissance façade that houses the remains of the Saint of Siena, and the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, marvel of the Romanesque art of Abruzzo, begun in 1287 by the will of Celestino V.

To discover this territory to the full, you can not miss the taste of Campotosto's palatable mortadella. In the vestina area you can try the "pavoncelle", small butterflies made by hand and seasoned with white sauce based on vegetables, in the Teramo and in the L'Aquila mutton with mushrooms, tagliatelle with meat sauce, chitarrina teramana and "strongole", or pasta made at home in the shape of long shoelaces seasoned with mushrooms, sausage, minced veal and herbs. Among the second of the vestina area, the rabbit alla cacciatora, the duck and the characteristic "tripe alla pennese", while in the mountain area the stewed sheep is typical.